Democratic Candidates Face Questions Seldom Heard On Campaign Trail

Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Tom Steyer faced criminal justice questions Monday that are seldom mentioned on the campaign trail, including sentencing reform for people convicted of violent crimes, civil rights for those coming out of prison and restorative justice, during the nation’s first candidate town hall organized by formerly incarcerated people.

Harris vowed to end the use of solitary confinement and to conduct an audit to examine spending—and who is profiting—in prisons. Steyer made his most extensive comments yet about criminal justice reform, saying he was opposed to mandatory minimums and automatic sentence enhancements. Booker said he would create incentives for local legislatures to encourage alternatives to incarceration.

The candidates also had to address some of their past actions about criminal justice.

Harris faced questions about